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Celebrating the US Army's rich history

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    U.S. Army Military District of Washington staff join us on their 237th birthday

  • Duration 11:52
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This transcript is automatically generated

It's okay let's meet everybody on set just this morning -- not gonna start off with any kind of breaking news or any of that because I consider the big story of the day.

To be the US army's birthday so -- a look at -- And I got my -- onto my dad would be proud because I got it from the major general.

Mike -- intends here today good to see you Harris good morning thanks for -- on absolutely -- that we have a little.

Command actually album is just right is good Irwin is -- -- -- knowing I wanna get it right.

She for an officer Fred L one -- here and command sergeant major Mike Williams is on the news here good mood this morning and thank you for coming -- First of all I want to know from you general what is on the bill today because this is a day.

That has her in Times Square here at Bryant Park for people who were watching from outside of the New York area.

Those -- kind of our key gathering area so when you hear us talk about people meeting you know this.

From New Year's -- it isn't just Times Square all around the city there -- these different squares and there they really can.

Have the capacity of hundreds of thousands of people so what's on the -- First the world over the country celebrating army's birthday tournament 37 years as you might imagine it's a it's a big deal for us.

But in New York City specifically we have -- in all Five -- three big events today -- -- -- the army general Odierno is cutting -- birthday cake at 1030.

At Times Square and that 1:30 PM where Bryant Park.

Given the musical.

So long presentation on the history of the army and you brought the we brought we brought this morning with us and it that 5 PM we're right back on times we're doing another presentation.

Highlighting the history of the army over to an -- that -- All right now you guys don't normally see -- is -- I didn't.

And -- -- -- tells her I was born on an army base so this is really an exciting time for me right very.

I'm really thrilled to hear this morning I want to talk about these take cuttings and tell everybody about this cake.

That people were gonna cut into here in the middle of Manhattan.

And cake boss actually produced yeah -- bonds they they -- to take that were cut this afternoon it's kind of a secret as to the design of the cake.

Don't feel too much of the fun of -- let's just say it's a phenomenal cake but took a ton of time to produce.

With a lot of advice from soldiers.

And -- look forward to -- it might look like something a soldier wounded at least news that made me yes -- Don't wanna get exotic fancy thing like a 1930s and that's what you're thinking of all -- tell -- what the students to you.

It we sold.

-- our past obviously we we pay tribute to our veterans and -- for veterans that have come before us.

-- -- wounded warriors and those that have been made -- -- tuck cords were also celebrating what army is doing currently were were deployed in a 150 countries.

More than 90000 troops or or deployed in combat and another 95000.

Soldiers are deployed in -- 150 countries around the world so.

It's a big deal first come together to celebrate the birth of our army.

-- June 14 1735 a year before the birth of the nation.

There you go through a few years before that was -- -- right.

Now let's go on to chief warrant officer Fred -- wanna I wanna ask you specifically about the performances you guys have started.

I just days ago really I was tweeting about this and everybody was saying but Harris the birthday isn't until June 14 -- you start celebrating early tell me about the -- they brought with it.

-- on the commander of the old guard I think drum -- And the old old guard pipe and drum corps is.

The official escort the president the United States reform at the White House for.

Arrival ceremony for foreign dignitaries and heads of state.

Do you do that.

Is that the -- as The Herald trumpets that okay -- zone and probably on tape.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- So tell me what we're gonna hear.

We have to -- with us consummate musicians constant since -- and they are here.

That the fight was really important in the revolutionary war who was the communication device it was the voice of the commander on the battlefield.

And you'll see our soldiers have red coats.

Don't be afraid they're not the -- they're reversed colors to it infantry colors infantry tellers were blue with the red facing.

The -- had red coats with blue -- so the commanders could pick them out.

On the battlefield smoke in confusion they could make the command.

In a fight carries.

Quite a ways before and so to move large formations of troops on the battlefield they were very effective as the most.

The most communicating.

Ask that the army -- A great piece of history and I -- a lot of people now.

That they were intertwined on the battlefield means that which was very dangerous for them they were indeed and furthermore they provided.

Rest in respite in camp and provided entertainment for soldiers when he work involved in combat.

So they've -- served a dual role as signal communicators.

And for provide some respite.

At the shows were doing in New York today you'll see the full flight control -- which is doing.

When they perform as a group.

-- -- what you -- are telling us because we're in an open setting here we have Fox News Latino we have foxnews.com.

We've got Fox Business on this war -- with the kind of turned the corner you're gonna blow the doors off this -- -- -- Perhaps.

I am excited stereo we're still gonna blow our doors up all right Mike Williams -- here as well does this.

Mean what does this -- -- to -- that but amazingly personal.

I have served 34 years and this time I met disarm them of the -- you're saying you're -- 34.

Alike take really good here -- and -- 33 years of service so anytime I get to celebrate anything about the army but what we've done here we fought.

Soldiers from all walks of life to New York City when the greatest cities in the -- -- -- diversity in the -- that killed the army story and celebrate.

Your flag out army board and the same day and we're doing here you have to have greeted that yeah.

You know I wanna kind of ask you a couple of decent questions.

If you can deal with app for just a second how -- recruitment for instance -- -- -- All across the services there's a waiting list of probably six months or more to -- in any servers right now waiting list a wait list what does that mean that means people stand in line -- -- because it takes it's a process -- priceless it's a process through.

It's a screen process to get them into what what I'm telling you is people are excited about the military.

And that's the army navy air force Marines the Coast Guard there's a minimum of six months of people waiting to get into the services so it's great it's a great time for us.

I think I would be remiss if I didn't ask this question I was born in fort McPherson in Atlanta it's one of the bases that's closing.

In general you talk about recruitment being up real quickly with a base closures though.

What are your thoughts about the future of the.

Think you're gonna very bright future I mean as we consolidate and as we have consult there -- bases over the last.

Five or six years with the previous round of the base realignment and closure we'd we'd -- We've actually.

He -- strengthen our position is that the larger bases where we are.

In the content only nine states and over like he -- long let's where I spent some time to try and I'm I'm I'm a Jersey guy to and I are you -- -- -- -- mom.

But I think we had we had some redundancy where we didn't necessarily needed and we need -- just lit a -- positions that.

-- bases where we had better training and been better readiness.

And had a better ability to have project forces forward.

As our nation needs it.

It kind of like an actual battle plan if you will.

That's experience streamlining the volume forces in the best position that they can -- to win okay we're going to go over I don't know if everybody knows this but we have a smaller studio.

Which is where our show first began a couple of years ago but now it's where we'd like to put special -- -- do music and so on and so forth.

So without further -- the US army old guard performing now that's why it's a lot of people live we left us.

-- Wow.

And and the general linens and -- here on set with use of that's cool you've heard that.

For our every time I hear them and inspires -- I mean if you don't get a lump in your throat when you hear the old guard fife and drum -- performed.

-- -- you're not really with us and -- -- and right.

Real quickly if you can't sit down what you guys are going to be doing and you've got the cake cutting the tomorrow's objecting to this is really a multi day since the celebration.

-- is a big day is -- Williamson were were held.

9/11 memorial tomorrow at 1028 were doing ceremony commemorating the attacks on our country.

The folks that that that are out there are also from the military district of Washington and New York we have first responders going to be there with us.

The hosting us and at that event and then -- -- the statue of liberty as well from 9 AM through the afternoon giving small patriotic.

Performances out there to the people -- new York and visitors.

Come to New York City.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- I've really it'll be different when I hear that sound isn't it true though that that that sounds it's kind of lets you know.

-- coming.

It's it's -- stirring candidates and inspiring.

And it was at that time and it continues to be 237 years later for America's armed.

And I want to give you the last word how important is it for people to see.

This part of our military and to celebrate the stay with us.

And that's exactly we want there's a lot of stuff going on with on the military -- we want you to come out and celebrate.

-- -- state before it.

34 years and still to this day when I wake up and put this uniform it moves me because the American people trust and support -- -- on.

Am thankful for the support.

We are thankful to you for all of their leadership and your service and thank you for being here this morning.

Major general Michael Wellington of the US army military district of Washington commanding general and a pleasure and honor to have you here this morning.

Chief warrant officer Fred L -- is here with us as well thank you president command sergeant major Mike Williams.

An honor to have you all thank you she thinks he's going to that I didn't look straight to thank you say they'd hand me.

Very cool okay we're gonna take a quick break gentlemen have a great celebration stick -- he's here.

Thanks.

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